Improvement in electric gas-lighters



w.w. BATCHELDER.

Electric Gas-Lighters.

Patented March 10, 1874.

Jim/anton NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE \VILLIAM XV. BATCHELDER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTERS.

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 148,403, dated March l0, 1874; application filed June 27, 1873. n

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WrLLmM W. Baron- ELDER, of the city and county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Torches for Lighting Gas, of which the following is a specication:

My present invention is an improvement upon hand devices or torches for lighting gas by the generation of an electric current, as pattcned to me under dates of March 5 and April 30, 1872, and the specication of which patents are referred to as giving a full description of the means for generating the electrical current, and its transmission to, and liberation within, an open chamber, which receives the escaping gas above the burner to sufficiently mix it with the air, to cause the electric spark to readily ignite it when the chamber is held a proper distance above the burner, and not in contact with it.

.My said improvement cons-ists of a lever or trigger pivoted to the movable section of the electric generator, in a manner to cross the junction formed by the movable and lixed gencrating-sections when in contact, for the purpose of making an electrical communication between the sections and with the gas-receiver, and to break the electrical connection ofthe generating-surfaces before they are separated, to insure the liberation and passage of the electric spark to the gas-receiving chamber, and prevent it from passing' oft' into the hand upon the separation of the sections, as will be more fully hereinafter described; and in the combination of the making and breaking lever with the iixed and movable electrical generating-sections, and a iiexible metallic spring-connection of the lever with the gasreceiving chamber, as will be described hereafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents an elevation of an electrical torch embracing my invention, showing the sections of the generator closed. Fig. 2 represents the electrical generating portion of the torch, showing the making and breaking lever pulled out of connection with the fixed generatingsection; and Fig. 3, a similar view, showing the generating-surfaces separated to liberate the lighting-spark.

The general construction and operation of Y the torch having been described in my pat ents aforesaid, a full description of such in this patent is deemed unnecessary, further than is required to illustrate my present improvements. rlhe electrical generating device consists of a fixed and a movable disk, A and B, mounted, respectively, upon a rubber or non-conducting stein, l, and a handle, l), from the former of which a metallic rod, E, projects, to the curved termination of which is attached a liberating-point, F, for the spark, and a receiver, G, for concentrating the escaping gas from and above the burner. The gasreceiver, being insulated from the metallic rod E by a non-conducting section, H, is put in communication with the movable section B of the generator by a spring or metallic connection, D, through the medium of a pivoted letion of the generator was composed of two' sleeves, to the inner one of which the rubber disk was attached, and the metallic shell to the outer one, for the purpose of obtaining an independent movement of each, the one in advance of the other, for breaking the metallic or charging connection before the separation of the generating-surfaces. It is to obviate this duplex-sleeve arrangement, and obtain the same end, that I have designed the outside pivoted lever with the single sleeve K, which greatly lessens the expense of the manufacture, and simpliiies the construction of the generator. This lever .l is connected to the movable section B of the generator by a hingejoint, L, and its lower portion has a thumbpiece or trigger, M, while the upper end of the lever extends outward, crosses the junction-of the two disks A and B when closed, and has a shoulder-point, N, the position of which must be such that it will be brought in contact with and bear upon the fixed section A of the generator when the latter is closed, and be carried away by the pressure of the thumb from the xed disk before the separation ofthe generating-sinfaees takes place, l'or a purpose to be presently described. To this end of the lever is attached the spring or metallic connection I, with the gas-rcceiverG, se that the lever J is utilized tor the several purposes of furnishing the means ot' separating the disks, making and breaking the charging-comieetion, and completing' the electrical circuit with the hand, while the spring-conductor I serves as the force by which the acting-point N of the lever is automatically brought into Contact with the fixed section A, which forms a stop to limit the upward movement of the lever, while its outward movement is limited by the inward movement of the trigger against the sleeve K. The position ot' the trigger J is such that, in grasping the handle I) with the hand, the thumb or linger will also grasp the trigger, a pull or pressure upon which will instantly release the connecting-point N from the liXed disk, and the same pull will also afterward separate the generating-surfaces, and allow the lightingspark to pass oft' to the liberating-point. Upon releasing the pull the lower rubber section and trigger-connecting point immediately resume their contact with the fixed disk, and the latter is thereby recharged. This movenient of the lower section is eit'ectcd by a spiral spring, l), within the sleeve, bearing respectivelyv upon the handle and the under side of the disk ofthe rubber surface, as shown in Fig. I. The swing-conductor Imay be in whole or in part a spiral spring, which also forms an elastic protection for the shade or globe against the Contact with the metallic rod, but the lever may be forced upward by a spring independent of this conductor. The liberating-point F should be full one-sixteenth ot an inch from the gas-receiver, because I have iound, in practice', that il' too tar away from the gas-receiver the sparks will not reach the bell, whereas it it be too close the spark will not be large enough. In using the lighter the bottom ot` the gas-receiving cham- IMI@ ber must be held above or away from the burner about an inch and a half, or it will not light the gas, as there must be a l'ree commingling ot' the gas with the air. rIhe spark is generated by rubbing the leather surface ol' the lixed disk and the rubber surface et' the movable disk together, audit' it fails to be produced by this action, draw down the movable disk and wipe ot't' the hard rubberI thoroughly with a dry cloth.

rlhe torch thus constructed is adapted for lighting every variety of gas burner or lixturc without any change in their construction, with or without a globe, shade, chimney, or reliector in any position. It is complete in itsell", and independent of any connection with the burner or fixture. rEhe lightest and most combustible fabrics can by no possibility be nitcd with it. It is manipulated with facility and positive safety, and made ot' any convenient length, with a key for turning oil' and on the gas.

Having described my invention, I claimw l. In an electric torch, substantially such as herein described, a thumb-lever or trigger, pivoted to the movable section of an electric generator, with one end arranged to cross the junction formed by the electricv generating-sections when in contact, for the purpose described.

2. The combination, in an electric torch, ot' the making and breaking lever J', with the lixed and movable sections A B et' the electric generator, and a liexible metallic connection or spring, I, connecting said lever with the gas receiving and diffusing chamber G, substantially as described.

In testimony whereot' I have hereunto set my hand in the presence ol' two subscribing witnesses this 26th day ot May, A. D. 1873.

XYILLIAM W. IEATCHELDEIL Yitnesses:

A. E. Il. JonXsoN, J. XV. lLrniL'roN J oHNsoX. 

